Fishing Forum

[size 1]In an effort to help each other get on the fish, we will be adding a series of posts entitled by the type of fishing we are targeting and would like all users who wish to include their "favorite way to catch these fish", "favorite spots" (doesn't have to be exact), "favorite guides for these fish", "tackle tips", "recommended tackle", "beginner tips", "boating techniques" or any other information you feel would be helpful to other anglers targeting this type of fish.

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Walleye (Sander vitreus ) " OLD MARBLE EYES "

Identifying characteristics: Two dorsal fins separated into a spiny and a soft-rayed portion, cloudy eye, white tips on anal and lower caudal fins, canine teeth.

Walleye are the largest member of the perch family. They lack the distinctive vertical bar makings of the yellow perch and have fan-like canine teeth.

In spring and fall walleyes congregate in shallow bay waters , where they seek out rocky areas and submerged bars. During the bright part of the day they retreat in schools to the shade of deep waters or submerged objects. In the summer, walleyes range into cooler, deeper waters. They prefer a water temperature of 55 to 68 degrees F and are seldom found in waters deeper than 50 feet.

Walleyes are greedy predators. They eat small bass, trout, pike, perch , sunfishes and leaches . Prime feeding times are early morning and evening. Although in turbid waters walleyes are active throughout the day. Walleyes often associate with yellow perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge.

In April and May, walleyes spawn over rock shoals. Males mature at age two to four years, females at three to six years. The average walleye caught by anglers is three years old and weighs from one to three pounds. Northern pike and muskellunge prey heavily on walleyes, while yellow perch, smallmouth bass and lake whitefish compete with walleyes for food.

A close relative and look-alike of the walleye, the auger shares habitat and, to some extent food sources with walleyes. Augers are more adaptable to turbid water than walleyes are. Like walleyes, they are sight feeders which shy away from intense light, so they are most active at dawn, dusk and on cloudy days. Immature augers feed on plankton and aquatic insects, while adults prey on small fish, insects, crayfish and leeches.

relative and look-alike of the walleye, the auger shares habitat and, to some extent food sources with walleyes. Augers are more adaptable to turbid water than walleyes are. Like walleyes, they are sight feeders which shy away from intense light, so they are most active at dawn, dusk and on cloudy days. Immature augers feed on plankton and aquatic insects, while adults prey on small fish, insects, crayfish and leeches.

FISHING TIPS ;

nand-lining or bottom bouncing with a 3/4 oz. lead head jig tipped with a minnow while drifting down the rivers current during the spawning run .( raising 2 to 3 feet than a controlled down flutter keeping the line taught .)

slow trollin with a erie-derie along the mud line in the water , walleye will hide just in the clowdey water and dart out and slam anything going by .
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[center][/center][center]I like to use a single number 4 arberdein hook with a 30 inch leader line half dozen beeds or so and one spinner blade.[/center] [center]I troll with it any where from 15 feet down to about 30 feet in depths of 25-40 feet of water.[/center]
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I keep a very simple approach to Walleye fishing. That might be why I don't catch mosters. But I seem to do OK in the numbers game.


I mainly fish a Northland Whistler jig 1/16oz. to 1/4oz. (mostly 1/8oz.) tipped with a worm. I am usually fishing in the rocks, in 5-35 feet of water. From shore or boat.

[url "http://www.northlandtackle.com/Cgi-Bin/Webc.exe/Catalog/st_main.html?p_catid=66"][/url]
I do use the Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon tipped with a worm for vertical presentations in 20-35 feet of water.



If I have too, (I say that because it is my weak skill) I'll troll 1/2oz.-2oz. bottom bouncers with a crawler harness. It really helped me with doing this when I got the tip to keep the line at about a 45 degree angle while trolling. That almost insures the correct speed with a bottom bouncer/crawler harness.

Hope it helps.

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[center][/center][center]thought I would freshen up the walleye pic[/center] [center]here is one I caught monday of this week.[/center] [center]I used a night crawler on a slip hook and bounced it of the bottom of the lake while trolling.[/center]
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Awesome Fish Dave!
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